Ukraine Says Starlink Connection Stable After Tensions With Washington

Zelensky’s Pressure Credited as Ukraine Reports Stable Starlink

By News Desk Last updated Oct 25, 2026

KYIV: (Web Desk) Ukraine has regained a “stable connection” to Starlink, the government said on Saturday, following days of tensions with Washington over the SpaceX-operated satellite network, which is crucial to the Ukrainian military’s operations.

Kyiv relies on Starlink’s civilian satellite communications system and the military-grade Starshield service as it continues to defend itself against Russian missile and drone attacks.

“Monitoring systems are recording a recovery in the speed Starlink of Starlink/Starshield. We are registering a speed of more than 400 km/h, the connection is stable,” Defence Minister Yevgeniy Khmara said in a statement.

“This result is above all important for our front, for our soldiers, for the operation of drones, for logistics and for communications,” he added.

The satellite network has become the centre of a dispute between Ukraine and the United States. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Washington of helping Russia by failing to warn Kyiv about incoming missile strikes and restricting Starlink speeds, which he said had hampered Ukraine’s military response.

Khmara credited Zelensky’s “firm stance” on the issue, saying it was “bearing fruit”.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would speak to SpaceX chief Elon Musk if Kyiv was experiencing problems with the communications platform. Trump had said on Thursday that Musk had restored access.

Musk has changed his position on Ukraine several times since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. However, he has maintained that any disruption to the service was the responsibility of the US government rather than SpaceX.